House Bill Would Require Schools to Follow Strict Concussion Safety Rules or Risk Losing Federal Funding
This bill directly protects student athletes by requiring states to establish concussion safety plans in all public schools. Students suspected of having a concussion must be immediately removed from play and cannot return until cleared by a trained healthcare professional. Schools must also provide academic accommodations like modified assignments and cognitive rest periods during recovery. These protections apply whether the concussion happened during school activities or not, ensuring broader coverage for all students.
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
The legislation would require states to adopt a 'when in doubt, sit it out' policy, preventing student athletes suspected of concussions from returning to play the same day. It requires evaluation and clearance by a qualified health care professional before resuming participation.
Senator Dick Durbin is promoting the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act. The act focuses on safety in game play and practice, prohibiting any youth athlete with a suspected concussion from competing for the remainder of the day.
The bill would require schools to establish a multidisciplinary concussion-management team to help students reacclimate to academic and athletic activities. This includes 'appropriate academic accommodations aimed at progressively reintroducing cognitive demands.'
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act
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